Dielectric study and ac conductivity of iron sodium silicate glasses

A series of glasses with formula (SiO₂)_0.7−x(Na₂O)_0.3(Fe₂O₃)_x with ( 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) were prepared and studied by means of AC measurements in the frequency range 20 kHz to 13 MHz at room temperature. The study of frequency dependence of both dielectric constant ε' and dielectric loss ε" showed a decrease of both quantities with increasing frequency. The results have been explained on the basis of frequency assistance of electron hopping besides electron polarization. From the Cole-Cole diagram the values of the static dielectric constant ε_s, infinity dielectric constant ε_∞, macroscopic time constant τ, and molecular time constant τ_m are calculated for the studied amorphous samples. The frequency dependence of the ac conductivity obeys a power relation, that is σ_ac (ω) = Α ω^s. The obtained values of the constant s lie in the range of 0.7 ≤ s ≤ 1 in agreement with the theoretical value which confirms the simple quantum mechanical tunneling (QMT) model. The increase in ac conductivity with iron concentration is likely to arise due to structural changes occurring in the glass network. The structure of a glass with similar composition was published and showed clustering of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions which favor electron hopping and provide pathways for charge transport.     

First principles study of the electronic and geometric structure of Cu(5 3 2)

Using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation and ultra-soft pseudo-potentials, we have calculated structural relaxations of the Cu(5 3 2) surface which contains steps and kinks. We find the relaxation pattern to oscillate dramatically for atoms in the first 10 layers before decaying rapidly in the bulk. The most striking feature is an outward expansion of the relative interlayer separation d₁₂ of 25%. We also find serious discrepancies with relaxation pattern and relaxation amplitudes calculated using embedded atom method potentials that may reflect the limitation of these potentials to accurately describe systems with complex geometries. Full potential calculations reveal a dispersionless surface state along a high symmetry direction in the surface Brillouin zone. Valence charge density along several planes show excess of charge around kink atom and the nature of bonding with other (5 3 2) atoms.     

Measurement of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazard assessment in mid Rechna interfluvial region,Pakistan

Radioactivity levels in soil samples, collected from mid Rechna interfluvial region, Pakistan have been estimated by using gamma ray spectrometric technique. ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, the primordial radionuclide ⁴⁰K and the artificial radionuclide ¹³⁷Cs have been measured in the soil of the study area. The mean radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were found to be 49.0 ± 1.6, 62.4 ± 3.2, 670.6 ± 33.9 and 3.5 ± 0.4 Bq kg⁻¹ respectively. The mean radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), outdoor radiation hazard index (H _out), indoor radiation hazard index (H _in) and terrestrial absorbed dose rate for the area under study were determined as 189.9 ± 8.8 Bq kg⁻¹, 0.51, 0.65 and 70.1 nGy h⁻¹ respectively. The annual effective dose to the public was estimated to be 0.43 mSv. The measured values are comparable with other global radioactivity measurements and are found to be safe for public and environment.     

Antituberculosis and cytotoxic activities of triorganotin(Ⅳ) complexes

Five triorganotin（Ⅳ）（1-5） complexes of cinnamic acid.（Z）-2-acetamido-3-phenylacrylic acid,3-methylbut-2-enoic acid,and 2,2-diphenylacetic acid have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H-¹³C-¹¹⁹Sn NMR,UV,and IR.The spectroscopic investigation demonstrated that the carboxylate group acts as a monodentate ligand in triorganotin（IV） compounds.Five triorganotin（Ⅳ） complexes were screened against the log phase culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv by colorimetric method using XTT dye as growth indicator.The MICs were found to be 0.08 and 1.25μg/mL.     

Profile of Parkia speciosa Hassk Metabolites Extracted with SFE using FTIR‐PCA Method

A rapid identification, classification and discrimination tool, using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), was developed and applied to determine the profile of the Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) of Parkia speciosa seeds under various temperature and pressure conditions (313, 323, 333, 343, 353 and 363 K and 20.68, 27.58, 34.47, 41.37, 48.26, and 55.16 MPa). The separation and identification of the compounds was carried out by Gas Chromatography coupled with Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (GC/TOF‐MS). This technique has made it possible to detect the variability obtained under different SFE conditions and the separation of different chemical compounds in P. speciosa seeds. The FTIR‐PCA results were verified by GC/TOF‐MS, and the FTIR‐PCA method successfully identified the unsaturated carboxylic acids with the highest percentage area under the different conditions.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of Macromolecules Derived from Bis‐Chalcone

We investigated the antibacterial activity of some new macromolecules such as bis‐pyrazoline, bis‐pyrazole, bis‐pyrimidines prepared from the reaction of bis‐chalcone with thiosemicarbazide/phenyl hydrazine/guanidine hydrochloride/thiourea. All the macromolecules have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass and elemental analyses. The antibacterial activity of these compounds was first tested in vitro by the disc diffusion assay against two Gram‐positive and two Gram‐negative bacteria, and then the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined with the reference to standard drug chloramphenicol. The results showed that pyrazoline derivative showed better antibacterial activity on S. typhimurium and E. coli than the reference drug chloramphenicol.     

Co(II), Ce(III) and UO2VI) bis-salicylatothiosemicarbazide complexes: binary and ternary complexes, thermal studies and antimicrobial activity

A series of new metal complexes of Co(II), Ce(III) and UO(2)(VI), with the Schiff base ligand, H2L, bis-salicylatothiosemicarbazide have been prepared in presence of different molar ratios of LiOH.H2O as a deprotonating agent. Also, the ternary complexes were prepared by using 2-aminopyridine (2-Ampy) or oxalic acid (Ox) as a secondary ligand. All synthesized compounds were identified and confirmed by elemental analyses, molar conductivities, spectral (UV-Vis, IR, 1H NMR, mass) and magnetic moment measurements as well as TG-DSC technique. The changes in the selected vibrational absorption bands in IR and NMR spectra of the Schiff base ligand upon coordination indicate that, the ligand behaves as a neutral, monoanionic and/or dianionic tetradentate manner with ONNO donor sites. Conductance measurements suggest the non-electrolytic and 1:1 electrolytic nature of the metal complexes. Thermal studies suggest a mechanism for degradation of the metal complexes as function of temperature supporting the chelation modes, moreover, show the possibility of obtaining new complexes pyrolytically in the solid state which cannot be synthesized from solution. Antimicrobial screening of the free ligand and its binary complexes showed that, the free ligand and some metal complexes possess antimicrobial activities towards four type of bacteria and five types of fungi and these results were compared with eleven type of known antibiotics.     

Synthesis of 2[(1R,2R)-2-(2,4-Difluorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-yl)propyl]-4-[4-tetrafluoropropoxy)phenyl]-3-(2H,4H)-1,2,4-triazol-3-thione—A Novel and Potent Azole Antifungal Agent

A simple approach involving refluxing appropriately disubstituted thiosemicarbazide 8 in presence of formic acid for the synthesis of 1, a potent azole antifungal agent, has been described.     

Radiometric analysis of rock and soil samples of Leepa Valley; Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

In this article, we present results obtained from a radiometric survey that was conducted in the Leepa Valley of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan. The purpose of current study is to appraise the radioactivity levels and the associated health hazards due to the terrestrial radionuclide in soil and rock samples. In this regard, 16 soil and 17 rock samples were collected from different locations of the Leepa Valley. After processing the samples, activity concentrations of primordial (²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) radionuclides were determined using a P-type coaxial high purity germanium detector. From the results obtained the mean activity concentrations of radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the soil samples were found to be 31.25 ± 0.46, 44.1 ± 1.07 and 575 ± 8.89 Bq kg^?1 respectively. Whilst, in rock samples ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K mean activities were found as 28.46 ± 0.45, 48.63 ± 1.12 and 666.7 ± 9.39 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration level in soil and rock samples is found to be 15.04 ± 0.29 and 5.7 ± 0.16 Bq kg^?1, respectively. The average radium equivalent activity (R _aeq) was found as 143.16 and 142.93 Bq kg^?1 in soil and rock samples, respectively. These findings are less than the recommended safe value of 370 Bq kg^?1 as given in OECD report (1979). The values of external (H _ex) and internal hazard index (H _in) are also less than unity. Mean value of absorbed dose rate was found as 69.78 nGy h^?1 for the soil samples, which is in good agreement with the world wide average value (70 nGy h^?1). Mean value of absorbed dose rate from rock samples was found as 70.01 nGy h^?1. Mean values of the annual effective dose is also lower than the values reported for different other countries of the world.